Definition:

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BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose Health Benefits:

BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT) is a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) consisting of four monosaccharides linked by specific glycosidic bonds. It is a naturally occurring, functional carbohydrate found in breast milk. LNnT is a non-fucosylated HMOs and one of the more abundant HMOs in breast milk.

■ Structural Characteristics

The core structure of LNnT is based on lactose (Galβ1-4Glc), which is extended twice to form a tetrasaccharide chain. The key glycosidic bonds are β-1→4 between the first galactose (Gal) and N-acetylglucosaminoglucose (GlcNAc); β-1→3 between GlcNAc and the second Gal; and β-1→4 between the second Gal and the terminal glucose (Glc). Lacto-N-neotetraose is structurally similar to the lactose-N-tetrasaccharide (LNT) but the key difference is that The second glycosidic bond of LNT is β-1→3 (Galβ1-3GlcNAc), whereas LNnT is β-1→4 (Galβ1-4GlcNAc). This difference in linkage results in different spatial structures and biological activities, e.g. LNnT is more easily utilised by specific bifidobacteria.

Particularities of BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose:

Product Specifications:

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☑  BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose 92%

Product quality standards:

● Novel Food, GRAS, GB14880, Infant formula, In-house

▶ Immune health

▶ Gut health

BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose Applications:

One of the most important health benefits of BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose is its regulatory effect on the immune system, which is especially beneficial for the development of the immune system in infants and young children. LNnT stimulates the secretion of cytokines by immune cells in the intestinal mucosa, enhancing the local immune response in the intestinal tract. At the same time, it promotes the synthesis of mucosal immunoglobulin A (sIgA), which forms an "immunological barrier" on the intestinal surface that resists pathogen invasion. LNnT regulates the balance of Th1/Th2 cells, reducing the occurrence of eczema, food allergies, and other allergic diseases in infants and children.

As a functional oligosaccharide, BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose cannot be decomposed directly by human digestive enzymes. However, it can be selectively utilized by beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract, playing the role of "prebiotics."It can significantly stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in an infant's intestinal tract. These bacteria can metabolize LNnT to produce short-chain fatty acids, which lower the intestinal tract's pH value and create an acidic environment that inhibits the colonization and reproduction of harmful bacteria. LNnT's structure is similar to the sugar receptors on intestinal epithelial cells. It can competitively bind to pathogenic bacteria's adhesion proteins, preventing them from adhering to the intestinal mucosa and reducing the risk of infection. LNnT promotes the expression of tight junction proteins in intestinal epithelial cells, enhancing the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier and reducing the risk of leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability) and the release of inflammatory factors (e.g., TNF-α and IL-6). It also reduces the release of inflammatory factors (e.g., TNF-α and IL-6).

▶ Promotes growth and development

During the early developmental stages of infants and children, LNnT promotes healthy growth in multiple ways. In neonates, whose intestinal tracts are not yet fully developed, LNnT accelerates the maturation of intestinal morphology and function. It does so by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal cells. This is especially beneficial for the intestinal development of preterm infants, as it reduces the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis. LNnT indirectly improves the absorption of nutrients (e.g., calcium, iron, and vitamins) by optimizing intestinal bacterial flora and the intestinal environment. LNnT also supports bone and nervous system development. Often found in breast milk alongside other HMOs, such as 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), LNnT synergizes with these other HMOs to enhance the intestinal barrier and regulate the immune system more effectively than a single ingredient can.

BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose is available in the following specification and contents:

In infant formula, high purity LNnT produced by synthetic biology or microbial fermentation is used in combination with 2'-FL to mimic the golden ratio of HMOs in breast milk and enhance the immunomodulatory and intestinal protection functions of the formula. For lactose-intolerant infants and young children, adding LNnT to lactose-free formulas improves the intestinal microenvironment and enhances resistance to pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose can be used with 2'-FL in infant cereal and canned supplements (e.g., rice flour and mincemeat) to support nutrient absorption and intestinal development during the complementary feeding phase. This is accomplished by regulating intestinal flora and enhancing immunity. LNnT can be used in formulas for special medical purposes, such as managing allergies and metabolic diseases, providing nutritional support for preterm infants, and aiding in post-operative recovery and for immunocompromised patients.

■ Nutritional value

BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose can be specifically utilised by bifidobacteria in the intestinal tract to promote their growth and inhibit the colonisation of harmful bacteria. When used in combination with probiotics, LNnT can reduce the production of branched-chain fatty acids in the intestinal tract, promote the conversion of protein metabolism to fibre fermentation, and improve the microecological balance of the intestinal tract.

■ Production technology description

The technical methods for producing BABYILY®Lacto-N-neotetraose are primarily classified as microbial fermentation, enzyme-catalyzed synthesis, and chemical synthesis. Currently, microbial fermentation is the dominant method of industrial production. In this method, microorganisms are genetically engineered to synthesize LNnT from inexpensive carbon sources (e.g., lactose) through their metabolic pathways. Fermentation can be carried out directly from lactose, a byproduct of the dairy industry, at a significantly lower cost than chemical synthesis. Bacteria and impurities are removed through separation and purification processes (e.g., membrane filtration and chromatography), resulting in a pure end product that meets infant formula standards.

The enzyme-catalysed synthesis method uses glycosidetransferases to catalyse the stepwise linkage of monosaccharides to build the LNnT structure. The chemical synthesis method constructs the glycosidic bond step by step through protecting group strategies (e.g., benzyl, acetyl protection) and condensation reactions, and finally deprotects LNnT.

General Information: